Quiet Moments: Wrap It Up!

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Wrap It Up!

It's Christmas Day, 2019 and I have joy in my heart today at finding a new perspective of God's heart!
When wrapping up gifts for Christmas there are many different styles, effort and time that goes into wrapping a gift. Some people cannot be bothered to put much into wrapping a gift that will wow the receiver. Others go all out and try to put the most elaborate wrapping paper and bows or ribbons around the gift they are giving. Some even go to the next level and discover some eclectic or highly fashionable way to wrap a gift.
When God the Father sent the gift of his salvation to us, he chose to wrap his gift in the most unlikely wrapping we'd ever think of - human flesh, and that of a new born baby! How clever was that!?
Whenever I've held one of my own children or grandchildren in my arms as a newborn I would feel like I never wanted that precious moment to end. I was totally mesmorized and in love with that new born child each and every time! There's just something so cleansing, so refreshing and awe-inspiring about the face of a new born child! I wonder what God the Father felt when he beheld his only son wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger? I imagine his heart swelled with pure joy! In fact, he held a celebration in heaven right away and he sent angels to share the birth announcement to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night! His Son was to become the gift of salvation to all mankind - God's heart's desire was at last coming to pass!
But his gift wrap was so unlikely, so unassuming, so easily missed. He did not send Jesus to the city as a prince in beautiful robes riding on a majestic horse with a royal entourage behind him. No, his Son was born to a poor teenage virgin named Mary and with her fiancee Joseph by her side, Jesus was born in a barn, wrapped in simple cloths, was laid in a feeding trough, and visited by some simple shepherds.
Jesus came for the least, the humble, the broken, the needy, the sinful. And anyone can recieve God's wondrous gift who has faith in Jesus' name!
Today will we be caught up in the moment of this most wondrous gift, the awesome sight of this new born babe of Bethlehem or will we distracted with the tinsel and gold?

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Waste Not, Want Not!

One of my favourite things to do is to make a big pot of homemade soup. It's a tradition from my Dutch heritage. My parents and grandparents always took the time and put their love into their pots of homemade soup. Plus, I get to use some of the leftover foods that might otherwise be tossed into the garbage or compost bin. I begin with the leftover carcass or bones of a roasted turkey, chicken or ham, put it in a pot, cover it with water, add some celery hearts that I stored in the freezer, onions that are getting old, garlic and some savory spices. I bring it to a boil, then turn it down and simmer it all with the lid on for at least 2-4 hours. Then I strain out all of the vegetables and bones/meat, cool down the broth, then make soup out of it the next day....yummmy! :! Pictured here is the turkey soup I made recently. What's better that a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day?!

Today's Tip

Lemons and Dawn

Try squeezing a lemon by using a strainer. Squeeze the lemon in smaller pieces over a glass measuring cup... it's easier on your hands and the pits won't get in the juice! :) If you've also used a garlic press for your recipe and want to get rid of any lingering garlic odour - throw the leftover lemon rind into a dish with hot water, and soak your garlic press in it for a little while. Last, but not least - you want to get rid of the onion and garlic odour from your cutting board! When you're done soaking the garlic press in the lemon water, rub the cutting board with the lemon rinds, then scrub vigorously with some hot water and Dawn Dish Soap, rinse and whala, you're done! :)